The Dallas Cowboys’ playoff hopes are barely hanging on after a gut-wrenching 34-26 loss to the eliminated Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night at AT&T Stadium. Just two weeks ago, Dallas was surging—coming off statement wins over the Chiefs and Eagles and dreaming of a playoff push. Now, they’re staring at near-certain elimination.

J.J. McCarthy and the Vikings, already out of the postseason race, played spoiler in every sense. McCarthy threw two touchdowns to Jalen Nailor and added a rushing score on a fourth-and-goal bootleg that embarrassed the Dallas defense. C.J. Ham’s go-ahead touchdown late in the third sealed a momentum shift Dallas never recovered from.

Dak Prescott finished with 294 yards but no touchdown passes—a rare off night for the NFL’s leading passer. Dallas’ defense looked shaky all game, giving up big plays and struggling to contain a Vikings offense that had nothing to lose.

The Cowboys (6-7-1) now need a miracle: win their final three games and pray the Eagles go 0-3 to sneak into the NFC East crown. That’s not just unlikely—it’s a long shot bordering on fantasy.

Brandon Aubrey, typically a bright spot, missed two field goals that proved costly, while injuries piled up across the roster, including RB Javonte Williams and LT Nate Thomas.

First-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer called it straight: “We never seized the momentum.”

If Dallas can’t beat the surding Chargers next week, the 2025 season is over. And even if they do, it might already be too late.